Display case for sabre saw blades

ABSTRACT

A compartmental storage container in which a plurality of sawtooth blades, different from one another in saw-tooth configuration, are removably storageable in isolated relation in respective compartments. A color-code arrangement is provided for associating the saw-tooth blades with respective compartments therefor and distinguishing the operative function of the respective saw-tooth configurations of the blades from one another.

United States Patent Howard A r. 16 1974 [54] DISPLAY CASE FOR SABRE SAW BLADES 935,420 9/1909 Smith 206/72 1,974,234 9/1934 Byrnes et al 206/DIG. 29 [75] Invent Howard, Chffslde, 3,370,697 2/1968 Levey et al. 206/4534 [73] Assignee: Howard Hardware Products Inc 521,102 6/1894 Crocker 206/DIG. 32

Bloomfield, NJ.

Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer [22] Flled 1971 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Friedman & Goodman [21] Appl. No.: 206,783

[57] ABSTRACT [52] Cl "206/459 ig fi g A compartmental storage container in which a plural- [51] Cl 3656-8500 865d U36 B65d 25/54 ity of saw-tooth blades, different from one another in [58] Fieid g 206/16 R DIG saw-tooth configuration, are removably storageable in 189 1 192 isolated relation in respective compartments. A colorcode arrangement is provided for associating the sawtooth blades with respective compartments therefor [56] References cued and distinguishing the operative function of the re- UNITED STATES PATENTS spective saw-tooth configurations of the blades from 1,941,746 l/l934 Hill 206/72 one another 747,368 l2/l903 Boye 206/16 R 1,810,826 6/1931 Gray 206/DIG. 29 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED'APR 1B 1914 3.804238 SniEI 1 UP 3 FIGI.

The present invention relates generallyto' a case or housing in which may be stored a plurality of tools, and

more particularly to a housing or casing for isolating the tools relative to one another and permitting ready identification of the respective functions of each of the tools as stored in the casing.

As is common in the art, there are numerous devices which are utilized for storing a plurality of tools similar in nature, yet, unless the tools differ from one another substantially with regard to the size and configuration thereof, it is extremely difficult to determine which of the tools should be selected for performing a particular task. In this respect, sabre saw blades are provided with an array of teeth each differing from one another in size and configuration for cutting into or sawing a particular surface. Unless the user of the sabre saw blades is a skilled artisen who can readily distinguish between the specific saw-tooth configurations of each of the blades and can immediately identify the specific function for a specific saw-tooth configuration, it is often necessary to resort to some specific chart loosely associated with the housing for comparing a specific saw-tooth configuration of one blade with an illustration of the blade on the chart for determining the function of the particular blade.

Clearly, this is a burdensome and time-consuming proposition and often results in a failure by the user to utilize the chart associated with the package of tools and a cursory selection of any of the blades rather than the very specific blade required for the specific object or surface to be sawed. An improper selection of a blade may result in the damaging of the teeth of the blade or, for that matter, a damaging of the surface or object being sawed with the improper blade.

Moreover, there are many instances when the blades are inadvertently co-mingled and even when provided with an appropriate system for distinguishing the function of each of the saw-tooth configurations of the blades respectively from one another, it is difficult to restore the bladesin the proper receptacles therefor after co-mingling in the absence of specifically resorting to a direct comparison between the individual blade configurations relative to an appropriate chart provided with illustrations of the blades respectively.

Thus, the conventional arrangements in which tools may be stored, and particularly tools of similar nature such as that of sabre saw blades having saw-tooth configurations differing only slightly from one another, are less than most effective for permitting ready removal and ready selection of the proper tool for a particular task.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved storage casing or housing for tools of similar nature and more particularly for tools of saw-tooth configuration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a casing in which sabre saw blades may be readily displayed in stored relation, and having a color-code arrangement for immediately identifying and distinguishing the respective blades from one another in association with the respective tasks they are to perform.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a casing in which sabre saw blades may be stored in very close proximity with one another, and permitting removal of a selected one of the sabre saw blades independently from one another so that there is no co-mingling of the blades as stored or removed.

To this end, the present invention relates to a combination wherein there is provided a plurality of sawtooth tools differing from one another in saw-tooth configuration, and a compartmental storage container in which said tools are removably storageable in isolated relation in respective compartments, the improvement comprising color-code means for operatively associating said tools with respective compartments therefor and distinguishing the operative function of the respective saw-tooth configurations of said tools from one another. Each of said tools is provided at least in part with a respective color differing from the other tools, said compartments having associated therewith respectively colored indicia corresponding to respective colors of said tools, and means for identifying the operative function of each of said tools in association with the respective colors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objects and advantages in view, as will hereinafter appear, this invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged top-side plan view of the casing in a closed condition, the color-code for the blades being displayed through the intermediary of the transparent top cover portion of the casing pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a view similar to that of FIG. 1 with the casing in an open condition, the top cover only shown fragmented, the support for the sabre saw blades being vacant;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates an underside plan view of the support for the sabre saw blades pursuant to the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a view similar to that of FIG. 3, wherein a particular blade is in an at-rest position as stored in a respective compartment therefor;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the sabre saw blade in a displaced position for removal;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the present invention relates generally to a casing denoted by the reference character 10, having associated therewith a transparent plastic top cover 10A and an opaque bottom or base portion 108 hinged to the top cover 10A through the intermediary of conventional ball-joint plastic hinges 11. The casing 10 is utilized for displaying and storing a plurality of sabre saw blades 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 respectively. Each of the sabre saw blades is provided with saw-teeth of selected configuration, and denoted by the reference characters 12A, 14A, 16A, 18A, 20A and 22A respectively and coupling end portions 12B, 14B, 16B, 18B, 20B and 228 respectively.

The aforementioned coupling end portions of the sabre saw blades are provided for operative association with an appropriate tool handle therefor (not shown). Each of the sabre saw blades is also provided at least in part with a specific colored surface differing from the other blades and are storageable in a compartmental blade support 24 having respective elongate compartments denoted by the reference characters 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 respectively, the compartments being separated by the elongate partitions 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 respectively.

Each of the compartments are associated with colored indicia denoted by the reference character 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 and 82 respectively, each differing in color, yet having a respective color corresponding to an associated one of the sabre saw blades. Extending adjacent each of the colored indicia are appropriate nomenclature zones 92, 94, 96, 98, 100 and 102 respectively which act to identify the material to be operated upon by the sabre saw blades corresponding to the specific saw-tooth configuration of the individual blades.

Accordingly, the colored indicia opposite the respective elongate compartments in which the sabre saw blades are respectively storageable, in combination with the individual colors specifically provided on these sabre saw blades, act as color-code means for distinguishing the operative function of the respective sawtooth configurations of each of the sabre saw blades from one another. Thus, the sabre saw blade 12 may be colored yellow and corresponding therewith would be a yellow colored indicia 72 opposite the appropriate compartment 32 for the blade 12. The nomenclature zone 92 may define that the specific configuration of sabre saw teeth 12A may be utilized for cutting wood and plastics up to, for example, three-fourths of an inch.

Similarly, the remaining sabre saw blades 14 through 22 may also be provided with colors differing from one another such that the colored indicia 74-82 respectively opposite the compartments 3H2 therefor respectively define which of the blades are associated with the specific compartments therefor and in combination with the nomenclature zones 94 through 102 respectively also identify materials such as wood, plastics, metal, veneer, masonite and plywood, and the thick nesses of these materials, to be operated upon by the associated blades.

Accordingly, the color-code arrangement wherein specific compartments define the specific sabre saw blades to be stored therein in combination with the specific nomenclature zones which act to identify the operative function of each of the sabre saw blades in association with the respective individual colors thereof, is a significant feature of the present invention. Thus, absolutely no further reference devices such as loose charts or the like are necessary for directly comparing specific saw-teeth configurations of the sabre saw blades relative to one another, the blades being very difficult to distinguish from one another in the absence of a particular reference device since the saw tooth configurations of each of the blades are very similar and difficult to identify unless one is quite skilled in the use of sabre saw blades, this obviously not being the case in the instance of the typical home handy-man.

Referring further to FIG. 1, the transparent cover 10A is provided with a finger ledge 106 having a depending lug 107 fixedly extending therefrom. More over, the opaque base portion 108 is provided with a finger ledge 108 having an upstanding lug 109 fixed thereto, the lug 107 and lug 109 each asociated in snapfit relation with respective detents (not shown) in the portions 10A and 10B of the casing 10. Thus, the casing 10 may be opened readily with the thumb and forefinger of the user for access to the sabre saw blades and, thereafter, may be detachably closed for storing the sabre saw blades in isolated relation, yet leaving the sabre saw blades and color-code in a displayed fashion for ready observation.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 7 and 8, the compartmental blade support 24 is provided with a laterally extending elongate deepened well 110 which communicates with each of the compartments 32 through 42, and is defined by the end partitions 52 and 64 respectively and by a laterally extending upper shouldered surface 112, the latter provided with a depressed portion 114 upon which is provided a suitable colored indicia carrier 116 such as a gum label or the like.

The function of the elongate deepened well 110 will be clarified below and separates the compartmental blade support 24 into two portions, one portion in which is provided the elongate compartments 32 through 42, the other of which portions is provided with the colored indicia carrier 116.

The compartmental blade support 24, as will be readily appreciated, is simply an insert which may be detachably positioned internally of the casing 10. The support 24 when removed and overturned, in a manner illustrated in FIG. 4, will result in an appearance such that the compartments 32 through 42 will show up as raised partitions 132, 134, 136, 138, and 142 respectively. Moreover, the partitions 52 through 64 as illustrated in FIG. 2, will show up as channels 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162, and 164 respectively. For that matter, the deepened well 110 will show up as a transverse partition 210, whereas the upper shoulder surface 112 will appear as a depressed zone 212 communicating with the channels 152 and 164 respectively at one portion thereof and on the other or opposite portion thereof with the slightly elevated zone 214 constituting the undersurface of the depressed upper portion 114 of the upper shouldered surface 112.

It should be clear that the appearance of the compartmental blade support 24, as illustrated with a top surface illustrated in FIG. 2, and an undersurface as illustrated in FIG. 4, is such since it is generally thermoformed or the like and provided with a generally uniform thickness throughout its integral plastic extent. Moreover, the support 24 is provided with a pair of opposite transverse marginal edges 216, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, for abuting against the opposite inner edges of the opaque bottom or base portion 103 of the casing 10 in generally press-fit relation so as to resist lateral play" of the support 24 relative to the interior of the casing 10.

The significance of the laterally extending elongate deepened well 110 which communicates with each of the compartments 32 through 42 respectively, may be appreciated by referring to FIGS. 5 and 6. In this respect, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the sabre saw blade 16 is shown in an at--rest condition as confined in the appropriate compartment 36 therefor. Moreover, the

elongate extent of the blade 16 is such so as to extend the full length of the compartment 36 therefor and partially overlie, at its end portion 168, the deepened well 110. Thus, whenever the user wishes to remove any of the sabre saw blades, and particularly the sabre saw blade 16, the user need simply depress, with his forefinger, theend portion 168 of the blade 16 downwardly in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 6 into the deepened well 110 so as to cause pivotal uplift of the opposite end thereof in the direction of arrow B above the confines of the compartment 36 where the latter opposite end may be grasped for removal. Thus, there is never any necessity for overturning the bottom or base portion 10B of the casing 10 which would otherwise cause a spilling out of all of the blades and an intermingling of the latter. I

Moreover, whenever the sabre saw blades are of rather small nature and positioned in the compartments 32 through 42 respectively in close proximity with one another, it is often difficult to grasp the respective end portions of the blades, because of their close proximity with one another, with the thumb and forefinger of the user, and thus because of the provision of the deepened well 110, the respective end portions of the blades may be depressed into the deepened well 110 in a manner as illustrated in FIG. 6 for simple and rapid removal.

Accordingly, as those skilled in the art readily understand, the present invention affords means for readily removing a selected one of the blades quickly and effectively, and permits a selection of the blades relative to one another, because of the provision of the colorcode arrangement, such that the proper sabre saw blade with its respective saw-tooth configuration may be readily and properly chosen for cutting into or sawing the proper surface with which it is to be associated. The user need never resort to loose charts or the like for comparing saw tooth configurations with the proper surfaces to be operated upon, and need never be concerned about co-mingling of the blades with one another this because of the color-code arrangement wherein the blades themselves are specifically colored with corresponding colored indicia and are associated with nomenclature zones for ready identification.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and is not to be construed as a limitation of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A combination comprising a plurality of saw-tooth tools differing from one another in saw-tooth configuration and a compartmental storage container in which said tools are removably stored in isolated relation in respective compartments, each of said tools being provided at least in part with a respective color differing from the other tools for distinguishing operative function of each saw-tooth configuration from one another, said container including respectively colored indicia corresponding to respective colors of said tools for operatively associating said tools with respective compartments therefor, said container including an insert member and a casing into which said insert member is removably disposed, said insert member being integrally provided with a first portion for accommodating said tools and a second portion provided with said colored indicia, said first portion including a plurality of spaced parallel partitions defining said compartments, said colored indicia extending on said second portion generally opposite said compartments respectively, said insert member including a deepened well between said first and second portions, said deepened well communicating with each of said compartments and separating said first and second portions from one another, said partitions having a common elongate extent extending transversely of said deepened well, each of said tools including a first end portion depressible downwardly into said deepened well and an opposite second end portion movable above said partitions upon depressing said first end portion into said deepened well for permitting manual grasping and removal of said tools selectively.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container includes means for identifying the operative function of each of said tools in association with the respective colors.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which identifies the operative function of each of said tools with the respective colors includes respective nomenclature zones, each of said nomenclature zones extending adjacent associated colored indiera.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tools have a common elongate extent greater than said partitions and overlie said deepened well at least partially.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said casing includes a base portion and a cover portion hingedly displaceable relative to said base portion for permitting access to said tools confined in said insert member.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cover portion is generally transparent for displaying said tools and said colored indicia.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cover portion and said base portion are operatively interlockable detachably in snap-fit relation. 

1. A combination comprising a plurality of saw-tooth tools differing from one another in saw-tooth configuration and a compartmental storage container in which said tools are removably stored in isolated relation in respective compartments, each of said tools being provided at least in part with a respective color differing from the other tools for distinguishing operative function of each saw-tooth configuration from one another, said container including respectively colored indicia corresponding to respective colors of said tools for operatively associating said tools with respective compartments therefor, said container including an insert member and a casing into which said insert member is removably disposed, said insert member being integrally provided with a first portion for accommodating said tools and a second portion provided with said colored indicia, said first portion including a plurality of spaced parallel partitions defining said compartments, said colored indicia extending on said second portion generally opposite said compartments respectively, said insert member including a deepened well between said first and second portions, said deepened well communicating with each of said compartments and separating said first and second portions from one another, said partitions having a common elongate extent extending transversely of said deepened well, each of said tools including a first end portion depressible downwardly into said deepened well and an opposite second end portion movable above said partitions upon depressing said first end portion into said deepened well for permitting manual grasping and removal of said tools selectively.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container includes means for identifying the operative function of each of said tools in association with the respective colors.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which identifies the operative function of each of said tools with the respective colors includes respective nomenclature zones, each of said nomenclature zones extending adjacent associated colored indicia.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tools have a common elongate extent greater than said partitions and overlie said deepened well at least partially.
 5. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said casing includes a base portion and a cover portion hingedly displaceable relative to said base portion for permitting access to said tools confined in said insert member.
 6. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said cover portion is generally transparent for displaying said tools and said colored indicia.
 7. The combination as claimed in claim 5 wherein said covEr portion and said base portion are operatively interlockable detachably in snap-fit relation. 